why are videographers charging so low?
- Thread starter Blade777
- Start date
purplemonkey369
New Member
There are plenty of client who don't mind a lower quality product for a slightly lower price in today's market.
Well, maybe your client just don't need your creatives and they really don't have the budget for it. So just give them the bloody video they want, take the money, save it and buy yourself another
overpriced Philip Bloom's signature Slider or Steadycam (must buy with VEST one) to impress your next potential client and make your competitors go weak on their kness...
Seriously, as far as production budget is concerned, if it's not working for you, you have to move on and look for clients that are willing to pay your rate.
Why complain about your competitors rate? They have done their sums and if $250 for a day shoot is good for them, who are you to say it's too low?
The only thing you should really worry about is when your competitor charge half of what you are charging, but still able to deliver a product far superior than yours.
If that ever happens, I think you can hug your Philip Bloom's slider and wear your Steadycam vest to sleep - Game over liao! Remember to put your Canon 5D in Clubsnap BnS section too.
Yeah, I want a 5D!! :bsmilie:
Life always unfair.So be happy.You don't loose anything.
maybe the old timers can help to "educate" the young ones if happen to see them on an event or something. or better still, educate the customers. I mean, i'm new too, but i don't undercut (i hope i don't 
) but i always appreciate whenever the old timers share their stuff with me whenever i see these people on events. but there's also some that are selfish with knowledge, i have no idea why. my two cents
) but i always appreciate whenever the old timers share their stuff with me whenever i see these people on events. but there's also some that are selfish with knowledge, i have no idea why. my two centsmalcom7373
New Member
Hi,
Two other reasons:-
1) Various freelancer calling themselves professional by holding a professional gear/tool as a form os sales gimmick has also contributed to the price war. This fierce competition is added with the fact that a handful of competitors are Foreign Talents. i recall a talk show on some mediation between someone charging the professional rate with an amateur photo using a professional DSLR on some wedding.
2) The local market as mentioned, supply versus demand. If people have not issue to reduce the quality or production or after sales service, then this would be the driving factor to the low pricing. Photo shooting is already like that, cannot imagine video. I get to see family, relative or friends holding some professional video to take and another snap his way throughout the wedding or birthday.
No choice .... Singapore market get saturated through time...
Two other reasons:-
1) Various freelancer calling themselves professional by holding a professional gear/tool as a form os sales gimmick has also contributed to the price war. This fierce competition is added with the fact that a handful of competitors are Foreign Talents. i recall a talk show on some mediation between someone charging the professional rate with an amateur photo using a professional DSLR on some wedding.
2) The local market as mentioned, supply versus demand. If people have not issue to reduce the quality or production or after sales service, then this would be the driving factor to the low pricing. Photo shooting is already like that, cannot imagine video. I get to see family, relative or friends holding some professional video to take and another snap his way throughout the wedding or birthday.
No choice .... Singapore market get saturated through time...
Most people would be happy just seeing their faces in videos and photos. They don't care if their knees were out of the frame, they don't care if their loved ones are out of focus, they don't even know inconsistent lighting when they see one. Cheap photography equipment has bred the mindset of "Been there done that, I have the photo to prove it on facebook". Even if the "foreign talents" are charging a premium for wedding videography, facebook generation would just buy a DSLR and get their friends to shoot it for them. Heck, they probably won't even need to, everyone owns one nowadays.
PrinceOfCry
Member
Okay guys, I read this intense post and is still pondering what is the market rate now...
I have just ord-ed from National service in august n is planning to go into event videography and weddings too.
Currently, I did see some low offers being offered to me to shoot for them.
So can I just checked with you guys about the rates?
Half-day videography w/o express editing =?
Full-day videography w/o express = ?
Half-day w express = ?
Full-day w express = ?
Full-day w express and w banquet editing to be given a few days later = ?
Thanks guys, I just want to have a rough guide.
I have just ord-ed from National service in august n is planning to go into event videography and weddings too.
Currently, I did see some low offers being offered to me to shoot for them.
So can I just checked with you guys about the rates?
Half-day videography w/o express editing =?
Full-day videography w/o express = ?
Half-day w express = ?
Full-day w express = ?
Full-day w express and w banquet editing to be given a few days later = ?
Thanks guys, I just want to have a rough guide.
Charge by hr it's better
if not once it over run you are dead. I did a millionaire's birthday party before haha it over ran by 1 hr. I forgot to put in the extra time charge & had to stay for free.
Next thing he called me for another job ask me is it the same rate. I said difference job difference price. Never hear from him anymore.
Now doing a real estate shoot easier n higher pay
Reject the job of you find it's too cheap. Some ppl look for Videograher or photographers becoz they are cheap not becoz they are good.
But of course there are exceptional ones
if not once it over run you are dead. I did a millionaire's birthday party before haha it over ran by 1 hr. I forgot to put in the extra time charge & had to stay for free.Next thing he called me for another job ask me is it the same rate. I said difference job difference price. Never hear from him anymore.
Now doing a real estate shoot easier n higher pay
Reject the job of you find it's too cheap. Some ppl look for Videograher or photographers becoz they are cheap not becoz they are good.
But of course there are exceptional ones
one eye jack
Senior Member
As usual focusing on the negatives does not help.A half empty vs a half full glass of water is the same
but from a different perpective.The buddha said "Your thoughts create your reality",be mindfull of this.
Whether you believe it or not experience and reflection will illustrate the efficacy of this attitude.I am reminded
of last night's movie on tv "Yes man" starring Jim Carrey,a hilarious example of positive thinking done blindly
by saying "yes" to every encounter in life because one is desperate but does not appreciate the wisdom and
truth in addition to recognition and consequences of opportunities presented by saying "yes" to everything.
mysilentkaopei
New Member
Hi guys, Virgin post on this side of the forum.
I'll try to justify my reasoning for my low fees here.
I shoot with a SONY A77 + Tamron 17-50 f2.8 (might upgrade to sony 16-50 f2.8 in future), for audio i use either a rode videomic or zoom h1 depending on situation. express edits are the norm for chinese weddings that I do and I use premiere pro cs5 for them (native edits cut time). built a fig rig which i then mount 2 LED panels with my dslr which stabilizes and lights. i've only done less than a handful of weddings.
Recently did a full day chinese wedding (gatecrash morning and dinner banquet) for 1k. As I build up my portfolio I generally feel more comfortable with quoting higher prices. Don't mean to be undercutting but there's always a fear of not being able to deliver the $2k standards that the client expects. In a sense I believe that if the customers really want good quality they would be more willing to pay more? And if they don't really care about the video (maybe they're focused on the photographer?) they won't really care much? I did a full day wedding withe express edit for $500 on my very first time.
Long story short, I belong to the "new guy charging low because no experience" category. Of course, I won't stay in that category with more experience definitely.
I'll try to justify my reasoning for my low fees here.
I shoot with a SONY A77 + Tamron 17-50 f2.8 (might upgrade to sony 16-50 f2.8 in future), for audio i use either a rode videomic or zoom h1 depending on situation. express edits are the norm for chinese weddings that I do and I use premiere pro cs5 for them (native edits cut time). built a fig rig which i then mount 2 LED panels with my dslr which stabilizes and lights. i've only done less than a handful of weddings.
Recently did a full day chinese wedding (gatecrash morning and dinner banquet) for 1k. As I build up my portfolio I generally feel more comfortable with quoting higher prices. Don't mean to be undercutting but there's always a fear of not being able to deliver the $2k standards that the client expects. In a sense I believe that if the customers really want good quality they would be more willing to pay more? And if they don't really care about the video (maybe they're focused on the photographer?) they won't really care much? I did a full day wedding withe express edit for $500 on my very first time.
Long story short, I belong to the "new guy charging low because no experience" category. Of course, I won't stay in that category with more experience definitely.
spree86
Senior Member
I first post here as well, I am not sure why but I do realise that videographers are charging less for equal amount or heavier workloads as compared to photographers.
I was shooting for a wedding sometime back (as a photographer) and I was rather surprised that the videographer was charging the same amount as me but they are a two-men team and have much heavier equipment than I do.
I was shooting for a wedding sometime back (as a photographer) and I was rather surprised that the videographer was charging the same amount as me but they are a two-men team and have much heavier equipment than I do.
mysilentkaopei
New Member
good point. was joking with my photographer some time back tt he was able to sleep through the afternoon while I had to chiong an express edit haha
Anson
Senior Member
Not always... Depending on the client requirement, as the photographer we also need to rush out the photo montage for the dinner. And increasingly we are seeing more client requesting the combination of video into their photo montage as well.
some are charging for earning extra pocket money, some are charging for providing food on table.
but from the POV of customers, they don't really care, especially budget conscious type. the cheaper the better is their motto.
sometime you can't blame the customers, because you are the people who allow them to take advantage on you, charging them so cheap, giving them opportunities to exploit you and your fellow people,
their favourite line #1: "I got budget problem", is that your problem? no right?
do you think if you tell him you got income problem, they will pay you extra? dream on!
their favourite line #2: "Give me best price, I will recommend my friends come to you"
hello auntie, you think you buy vegetable from wet market izit? what if you friends don't come to me than how?
if later your friend comes, asking even more discount, if I give him, will make you look like carrot. If I don't, he will say I not friendly, how har?
I see so many are already chairing so cheap, customers still want to ask for more discount, is like robbing from the poor, so disgusting.
sometime you just need to walk away, take pride of your work.
After all, the customers just need a "camera man", if the video (photography applies too) is that valuable to them, they will find the money, or else they will just find anyone holding the camera.
but from the POV of customers, they don't really care, especially budget conscious type. the cheaper the better is their motto.
sometime you can't blame the customers, because you are the people who allow them to take advantage on you, charging them so cheap, giving them opportunities to exploit you and your fellow people,
their favourite line #1: "I got budget problem", is that your problem? no right?
do you think if you tell him you got income problem, they will pay you extra? dream on!
their favourite line #2: "Give me best price, I will recommend my friends come to you"
hello auntie, you think you buy vegetable from wet market izit? what if you friends don't come to me than how?
if later your friend comes, asking even more discount, if I give him, will make you look like carrot. If I don't, he will say I not friendly, how har?
I see so many are already chairing so cheap, customers still want to ask for more discount, is like robbing from the poor, so disgusting.
sometime you just need to walk away, take pride of your work.
After all, the customers just need a "camera man", if the video (photography applies too) is that valuable to them, they will find the money, or else they will just find anyone holding the camera.
Its the same with photography, it's not the comparison on the weight of equipment, nor the number of persons, neither the amount of stress or effort and never videog vs photog who's work harder or more valuable. It's how you conduct and grow your business.
Recently on a commercial shoot the videographers, also two-person team, asked me how much I charging the client, I was frank and their eyes widened in surprise. They didn't think it's possible? Turns out the client is their friend. Friend is friend, business is business, their friend is being paid by the company he work for so why shouldn't them? Out of curiosity I checked out their site, 4 years in the business with office space, shouldn't be doing free. Once clients tasted free they never want to pay again.
In the current world of everyone's a free photog/videographer, you have to work on brand building to distinguish as a pro and the first thing to do us to rethink your pricing.
Yes, supply and demand.
There are 2 ways of looking at it...
Supply can be number of jobs and can be number of service provider.
But demand is the same thing.
Let's say the supply is a variable, how do u create the demand to your work is a lot more useful.
Some simply take this as a statement of fact and some will do something about it and generally, those do benefits from it.
Like what JasonB says, brand building is one of the factor.
Anyway, I have numerous chat with various photographer and they can't seems understand how business equation works.
With the post I made some months ago, I realize how much people focus on the fact but nobody have the guts to do anything about it.
Just like word of mouth advertising... It is the best. But how many go beyond that fact and make it to their benefit? Not many.
You can't blame market condition and if your business is not doing well, u have yourself to blame.
In business, you have to vigilant to always try to stay relevant and offer more selling point to create the demand on your work.
Life isn't fair... I agree, but what you do to make it fairer is up to you.
Regards,
Hart
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junliang78
Member
Nods head ...
Don't get me wrong, as a consumer, we all want to feel that we get a good deal. Don't you?
I do sometimes blame it on the service provider who just use discount to give the clients a sense of "good deal".
There are a lot more things that you can do to offer a better deal then discount monetarily but many choose the easy way out.
One thing for sure is, you can't win all jobs. However, you need to make sure you communicate your "worth" to the clients so they know why paying you is a good deal. Without effective communication, it is difficult to get your point across.
If you want to screen your clients, depending on the intention of the caller, I do get people call and ask for PRICE, but do they really understand how you work? If not, why not try to explain how it works with your service. Don't assume that everyone who wants a good deal wants a discount.
For example, I had a client come in this morning to select the order and they spend a handsome amount of money (biggest single purchase so far) without asking one cent discount. But they do ask for a good deal... The deal was sealed with full price on the items, but given them value added by offer personal delivery.
There are 2 things I see here about offering personal delivery:
1. Clients are assured that I see the details of the quality of the work that I produced for them right to the very end of it - kind of satisfaction guarantee.
2. Another chance for me to meet up with clients after the service (Post sales service) which generally leads to another booking by one of their friends. - The more your clients see you the better.
So before you rush and offer discount, think again what you can offer to your clients.
Always ask question if you don't fully understand the client's question and don't assume that you know what they want.
Always invest in educating your clients, even if they don't book your service this time around. Budget conscious clients generally uninformed group of people as far as the photography world goes.
It is easier to blame on client, but seldom, we look at ourselves and see things from their perspective and change it.
Regards,
Hart
